PCSAO Weekly Update: August 5, 2024

Weekly Update: August 5, 2024

Association News

Holiday gift drive planning begins

It was Christmas in August for the Community Education Committee, which met online Aug. 2. Kevin Milliken of Lucas County Children Services presented on holiday gift drives; a recording of the training is available to members. Other topics included the Treatment Foster Home Pilot Project. The committee meets next in person Oct. 4.

Ohio START

Second Quarterly Consortium meeting

The second of two Ohio START quarterly Consortium meetings will be held Aug. 7 from 9-10:30 a.m. This meeting has a full agenda including updates from Ohio START Director Fawn Gadel and the evaluation team, as well as presentations from Head Start and a local cannabis dispensary. START staff and partners who were unable to attend the first meeting are encouraged to attend. Register here.

Rules Update

Clearance

The following rule is open for comments until Aug. 6:

Rule 5101:2-49-0 5 - Initial determination of the Title IV-E adoption assistance (AA) monthly payment amount.

The following rule is open for comments until Aug. 11:

Rule 5101:2-5-09.1 - Background checks for college interns, subcontractors, volunteers, employees, board presidents, officers, administrators and foster caregivers

Filed with JCARR

As of Aug. 2, there are no children services-related rules filed in JCARR.

Annual Conference

2024 PCSAO Annual Conference Sept. 9-11

The 2024 PCSAO Annual Conference, taking place Sept. 9-11 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, is an exciting opportunity to share best practices, connect with colleagues, and be inspired to continue this important work. The conference draws more than 500 child protection professionals from around Ohio including caseworkers, supervisors, administrators, clinicians, attorneys, and advocates. In recognition of Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week, this year's theme is "This Is Us: The Child Protection Team." Visit our conference webpage to learn more. Contact anne@pcsao.org with any questions.

Child protection caseworkers, supervisors, administrators, clinicians, attorneys, and advocates are invited to join us for three days of learning and celebrating the accomplishments of youth, families, and child protection staff from around the state of Ohio. View the agenda and workshop offerings here. Registration closes Aug. 26. Register here.

Become a sponsor

The 2024 PCSAO Annual Conference is an exciting opportunity to network with more than 500 children services professionals. Learn more and sign up as a conference sponsor on our event website.

Sponsor benefits include:

Face-to-face networking and exhibitor table
Organizational logo included in conference materials
On-site sponsorship recognition
Publicity on PCSAO’s website

Meet our conference keynotes

Dr. Amy Acton is a physician and community leader who has spent over 35 years pursuing her passion for public health and wellness. She is in private practice in Preventive Medicine and Global Public Health. Whether as Director of the Ohio Department of Health during early days of the COVID pandemic, Vice President of Human:Kind at the Columbus Foundation, or professor in global public health, Dr. Acton has inspired interdisciplinary, cross-sector teams to address our most challenging issues and raise the bar higher, ensuring the community conditions in which all of us can flourish and realize our full potential.

Corey B. Best is a Black father, community organizer, activist, and leader. Corey founded Mining For Gold in 2020 as part of the larger movement that is in the active pursuit of racial justice, liberation, and freedom. Mining For Gold embraces the universal application of co-design and community organizing to guide child- and family-serving systems toward a more robust and healing way of thinking and practicing. Since 2020, Mining For Gold has held a brave container to explore the impact of racialized America with over 3,000 child- and family-serving leaders and staff.

Thank you to our diamond sponsors

Resources and Clips

Resources and Opportunities

DCY Tuesday Times

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth shared updates and other pertinent information pertaining to children services and other program areas on July 23. To view this and previous versions of Tuesday Times, click here.

Survey on the role of AI in human services

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is gathering insights on the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) in human services programs. ACF is seeking input from state leaders, local program administrators, and frontline staff to inform their understanding of potential opportunities and challenges related to AI use in human services delivery. You are invited to participate in this brief survey to share insights on current and planned uses of AI in your workplace, resources and guidance needed for AI implementation, and reasons for not using AI in your workplace.

HHS holds Disaster Human Services Convening

Join ACF and the Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR) on Aug. 20-22 for the inaugural “Forward Together: Shaping the Future of Disaster Human Services” event. This two-and-a-half-day gathering convenes leaders, experts, and practitioners to discuss the impact of disasters on human services and to shape the future of this evolving field. The convening will take place in Washington D.C. with an option to attend virtually. Learn more and register here.

OFCA Cincinnati Regional Conference

Join Ohio Family Care Association (OFCA) on Sept. 28 for a one-day conference "Strengthening Families: Healing and Interconnection.” Designed for primary, kinship, foster, adoptive caregivers, and professionals in the field. Learn more and register here.

Save the date: Ohio Fatherhood Summit

Save the date for Ohio's Fatherhood Summit on Sept. 24-25 hosted by the Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families (OPNFF). More information to come.

The 2024 International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare expects to draw 2,000 participants from 25 countries on Oct. 7-10 as part of a growing global movement to bring radical and lasting change to the way child welfare systems work. Choose from more than 200 sessions, including a presentation by PCSAO's Mike Kenney and Lara LaRoche about Ohio's Children Services Shared Practice Model, PACT. Learn more about the conference and register here.

Imagination Library books coming to all eligible kids in foster care

Through a partnership with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, every child between birth and age five in foster care and relative kin placement will receive a monthly Imagination Library book at no cost. Books will begin arriving in August and will continue until each child’s fifth birthday. DCY will manage the personal information, ensuring it remains protected and addresses are updated when a child moves. When Dolly Parton created her Imagination Library program, she wished to have the books mailed to the child’s home. This ensures that every child has access to books, and can spend time reading. For more information, visit this link.

Save the date: CFIS Conference

The CFIS Conference will take place Oct. 6-8 at Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center. Hotel reservations can be made using the group code 376176 or by the following this link.

36th Annual National Independent Living Conference

Growing Pains 2024, The Independent Living Conference held Aug. 27-30 offers more than 35 sessions for professionals and youth. Visit the conference webpage for more details. Register before July 31 to avoid the rate increase.

Child Protection in the News

Aug. 1 – These private centers lack oversight. Cuyahoga County judges send kids anyway. – The Marshall Project-Cleveland

Concerned about overcrowded youth detention centers, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court officials sought safer settings and a better path forward for kids.

July 26 – Ongoing support: Program aims to help grandparents, caregivers who are raising children – WTOL

The number of grandparents and older adults raising children continues to climb, according to the Area Office on Aging (AOoA). In light of this increase, the organization has developed a program to support caregivers and build strong foundations for the children.

Calendar and Job Postings

Aug. 7 | Board of Trustees Meeting

Aug. 16 | Conference Planning Committee Meeting

Note: Some meetings are being held via web and others in-person.

View the full calendar for details.

Looking for a career in child protection? Or a new position to challenge yourself?

Check out the latest job openings in child protection at PCSAO.

New OMJ landing page for children services jobs!

Read our 2023-2024 Strategic Modernization Plan

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